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The 1997 U.S. Open was played on the Blue Course at Congressional Country Club, whose par-3 closing hole is unusual in major championship golf. This was the first U.S. Open as a pro for Tiger Woods, who was coming off a record-setting victory at the 1997 Masters. Woods wasn't a factor here, however, finishing tied for 19th.

Tom Lehman was the third-round leader, and Lehman was in the mix until hitting into the water on the next-to-last hole of the tournament. He finished in third place.

That left Ernie Els and Colin Montgomerie - who had been part of an 18-hole playoff at the 1994 U.S. Open, won by Els - to battle it out. But Monty bogied the 71st hole to Els' par, and the proved the difference. Els finished as the champion, one stroke ahead of Montgomerie.

1997 U.S. Open Scores
Results from the 1997 U.S. Open golf tournament played at the par-70 Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland (a-amateur):